Ranunculus plant named ‘ABAVESCA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar named ‘ABAVESCA’ is disclosed, characterized by a unique coral pink flower color and lightly perfumed flowers. Plants are robust and highly productive for cut flowers. The new variety is a Ranunculus, normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABAVESCA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2009.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘Rs-R18-08.A’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘p5-08.A’. The new variety was discovered in 2013 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2009 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by vegetative division of buds sprouting from the tuberous root of the selected plant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture. First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy in 2012 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABAVESCA’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ABAVESCA’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ABAVESCA’ as a new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar:

-   -   1. Unique coral pink flower color.     -   2. Flowers lightly perfumed.     -   3. Plants robust with exceptionally large foliage.     -   4. High productivity of cut flowers.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABAVESCA’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABAVESCA’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flower color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABAVESCA’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABAVESCA’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flower color.     -   2. Vegetative carriage.     -   3. The new variety has a fragrant flower, the pollen parent does         not.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABAVESCA’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Ranunculus ‘ABIOSHEKA’. The two Ranunculus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘ABAVESCA’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Vegetative carriage.     -   2. Floral size of the new variety is larger.     -   3. Flower color of the new variety is more coral pink, this         comparator is more purple.     -   4. The new variety has a fragrant flower, this comparator does         not.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old, grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘ABAVESCA’ plants grown in a greenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has been cultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and described in the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions of season and culture, when considering the present description. By reason of different climate or culture conditions, differences may arise between certain characteristics of the plant and the corresponding characteristics of the description. It should be considered as normal and do not modify the essence of the present invention because it will possible to identify the plant by means of the totality of the characteristics given in the description. The tuberous root has been planted on raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C. to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABAVESCA’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 15 days at approximately 10-12° C. -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 20 days. -   Root description: Tuberous roots. Quantity of tubers varies     significantly with environmental conditions and age.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, compact, erect     vegetation. -   Height to top flower: 40 to 45 cm. -   Plant spread: 30 to 35 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium. -   Branching characteristics: Main floral stems grow from a basal     rosette with 3 to 4 lateral branches, each one of which has one or     more flower. -   Length of lateral branches: 45 to 55 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.8 to 1.0 cm. -   Texture of lateral branches: Tomentose. -   Internode length: Internodes are extremely close together, forming a     basal rosette. -   Strength of lateral branches: Very Strong. -   Color of lateral branches: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). -   Aspect angle of branches: 15° to 20°. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Usually 2.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf: The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked heterophyllia     (significant variation in leaf shape, size and arrangement on a same     plant. Simple, biternate and ternate leaves appear on the same     plant, in relation to the degree of development (young leaf and     mature leaf) and their position on the plant (basal leaf — leaf at     the base of the plant — and cauline leaf — leaf inserted at the     nodes of the floral stems). -   Leaf at the base of the plant:     -   -   Arrangement.—Simple (young leaf, YL); Biternate (mature             leaf, ML).         -   Average length.—9-15 cm.         -   Average width.—15 to 23 cm.         -   Overall shape of blade.—Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite             (mature leaf).         -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of             dissection.—Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature             leaves are generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which             is further divided in 2 or more lobes.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly tomentose, verrucose,             thick.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly tomentose, verrucose,             thick.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Glossy.         -   Appearance bottom surface.—Glossy.         -   Leaf internode length.—The internodes are extremely close             together, forming a basal rosette.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137A). Young             foliage under side: Yellow Green (RHS 147C). Mature foliage             upper side: Green (RHS 137A). Mature foliage under side:             Yellow Green (RHS 147C).         -   Venation.—Type: Longitudinal; plunging in to the limb at the             upper surface; raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Venation             color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Petiole.—Petiole: Long, tubular, rigid. Length: 12 to 15 cm.             Diameter: 0.6 to 0.8 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.         -   Color.—Yellow Green (RHS 144A). -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems (sl):     -   -   Arrangement.—Biternate.         -   Average length.—14 to 22 cm.         -   Average width.—20 to 25 cm.         -   Overall shape of blade.—Palmatipartite.         -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of             dissection.—Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which             is further divided in many lobes.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Attachment.—Floral stems.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Glossy.         -   Appearance bottom surface.—Glossy.         -   Leaf internode length.—5 to 8 cm.         -   Color.—Foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137A). Foliage under             side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous, plunging in to the limb at the             upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Venation             color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Petiole.—Petiole: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length: 10 to             12 cm. Diameter: 0.8 to 1.0 cm Pubescence: Tomentose.         -   Color.—Yellow Green (RHS 144A).

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Winter to Spring. -   Vase life (cut flower): 10 to 15 days. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. -   Number of flowers per plant: 6-8. -   Bud:     -   -   Closed bud (cb).—Shape: Flattened globular with sharp point.             Length: 1.1 to 1.6 cm. Diameter: 1.2 to 1.8 cm. Color:             Yellow Green (RHS 144C).         -   Slightly open bud (ob).—Shape: Flattened globular. Length:             1:8 to 2.0 cm. Diameter: 2.2 to 2.6 cm. Color: Red (RHS             45C). -   Flower size (of):     -   -   Diameter.—7 to 11 cm.         -   Height.—3 to 5 cm. -   Corolla (of): Round, regular, in the form of a flat section. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very             tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite variable,             according to the position in the corolla, decreasing from             the exterior toward the center. The average size of fully             developed petal is as follows.         -   Length.—4.0 to 4.5 cm.         -   Width.—4.0 to 5.0 cm.         -   Quantity.—Double flower, petals are very numerous average             range around 120 to 180.         -   Texture.—Silky, thin, resistant.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Margin.—Slightly crenate.         -   Aspect.—Fan Shape, concave, reflexed when flower is fully             opened. -   Color when opening (cf):     -   -   Upper surface.—Vivid Red (RHS 52A), Yellow (RHS 4D) near the             base.         -   Lower surface.—Vivid Red (RHS 52A), Yellow (RHS 4D) near the             base. -   Color fully opened (of):     -   -   Upper surface (pu).—Red (RHS 52B). Yellow (RHS 4D) near the             base.         -   Lower surface (pl).—Red (RHS 52B); Yellow (RHS 4D) near the             base. -   Calyx to sepals (s):     -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Concave, moderately incurved.         -   Length.—3 to 4 cm.         -   Width.—0.7 to 1.3 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Flat to Slightly rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Lower surface is tomentose; Upper surface is             glabrous.         -   Color upper surface.—Green (RHS 143C).         -   Color lower surface.—Yellow Green (RHS 144C). -   Peduncle: None. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—35 to 40 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.5 to 2.2 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Orientation.—Upright, straight, rigid.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly tomentose. -   Fragrance: Slight but, appreciable, especially in Spring.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:     -   -   Stamens.—Present, numerous, irregular quantity average range             may be 20 to 60 with a short white filament.         -   Anther shape.—Longer than wide.         -   Anther length.—3 to 4 mm.         -   Anther color.—Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Pollen quantity.—Greyed Orange (RHS 176A). -   Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, irregular quantity average     range may be 20 to 40 short, locked together at the center of the     corolla in a Red Purple (RHS 59A), dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium. -   Nectar gland: Absent.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Seeds and fruit production not observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility     to normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Upper and lower temperature tolerance not     observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled greenhouse.     Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates temperatures within USDA     Zones 7 to 11. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ‘ABAVESCA’ as herein illustrated and described. 